Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA) Sued Under Wisconsin’s Lemon Law

Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is in the crosshairs of Wisconsin attorney Vince Megna, who’s known for filing so-called “lemon law” cases. According to various media reports, one of which is from Wisconsin TV station WAOW, he filed the case on behalf of Robert Montgomery of Franklin, Wis.

Details on the case against Tesla

The attorney filed the suit today in Milwaukee. It claims Montgomery received his Model S in March of last year. He paid $94,777 plus $4,738 in state taxes for the car. According to the case, the vehicle was under warranty but out of service for over 30 days in order to fix a number of problems.

Under Wisconsin’s lemon law, manufacturers must repair a problem which is covered by their warranty after four attempts in a year. Otherwise, they must give a refund in a timely manner or replace the vehicle. If the case is successful, Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) would have to pay double damages to Montgomery.

Megna posts YouTube video about Tesla

ValueWalk uncovered a YouTube video posted by Megna this morning in which he explains his case against Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA). He said if Milwaukee drivers have a problem with their Model S, they’ve got to tow it to Chicago—about 92 miles away—for repairs. He said this is the very first Tesla involved in a lemon law case.

The attorney said during the first five months Montgomery owned his Model S, it was in the shop for 66 days. He also said the vehicle wouldn’t hold a charge. He also pushes on the door handles, which retract into the door so that the car will have better thermodynamics. However, the handles don’t come out until he pushes on them several times.

Tesla history mentioned

He again brings up the fires of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s Model S sedans late last year and makes a joke about George Clooney, who said last year that he owned one of the first Roadsters and hated it. The attorney drives by a cardboard cutout of Clooney on the side of the road. He even stops to have a chat with the cutout.

Aside from that joke, there’s a very cheesy shot of someone he says is his paralegal with duct tape over her mouth and wearing a t-shirt which says “WTF” on it. He said since Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) requires buyers to sign a confidentiality agreement, he won’t let her talk about the case.

Megna also states that Montgomery sent three requests under the lemon law to Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) asking the automaker to buy back the car. However, the company reportedly did not respond. He questions whether Tesla will fight the case “like dogs” and reminds the viewer that “it took Mercedes eight years to lose a million dollars.”